Rumor: Disney Cruise Line to visit Hawaii

According to an article in the Honolulu Star Advertiser, Disney Cruise Line could be setting sail for Hawaii in the near future. Sailings to Hawaii would make perfect sense with the upcoming opening of the company's newest Disney Vacation Club resort "Aulani" opening in August of 2011. The Disney Wonder cruise ship, currently based in Florida, is moving to the West Coast in 2011, a move that is fueling the Hawaii rumors even further.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation "confirmed that Disney has tentative bookings at Pier 2 in Honolulu Harbor in May and September of 2012." However, the article does remind readers that a Disney spokesperson declined comment on any itineraries past 2011.

It will be interesting to watch and see how this plays out, as a legal restriction in the Passenger Vessel Services Act(PVSA) would require additional stops be made. Disney Cruise Line ships are registered in the Bahamas, technically making them foreign ships. The PVSA states that foreign ships may not sail directly from two U.S. ports. The Wonder will be based in Los Angeles, so if the ship was going to dock in Hawaii, it would need to make an additional stop in Canada or Mexico on its itinerary to comply with these regulations.